Sir Patrick Spens
(1961)
Duration: ca. 7'
A ballad for Tenor and Guitar
Text: traditional Scottish

World Premiere: 7 July 1961, Aldeburgh Festival
Peter Pears, tenor
Julian Bream, guitar

Publisher:  Chester Music Ltd

Text:

The King sits in Dunfermline town A-drinking the blood-red wine; "O where will I get a good sailor To sail this ship o mine?" Up spak an eldern knicht, Sat at the King's richt knee; "Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor That ever sailed the sea." The King has scrivit a long letter And signed it wi' his hand; And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens Was walking on the strand. "To Noroway, to Noroway, To Noroway o'er the foam; The King's daughter o Noroway Tis thou must bring her home." The first word that Sir Patrick read A loud laugh laughed he: The next line Sir Patrick read The tear blinded his e'e. "O who is this has done this deed And told the King of me, To send us out at this time of year To sail upon the sea? Mak haste, mak haste my mirry men all, Our good ship sails the morn;" "O sae, na sae, my dear master For I fear a deadly storm. I saw the new moon late yestreen Wi' the old moon in her arm; And I fear, I fear my dear master That we will come to harm." They hadna sailed a league, a league, A league but barely three, When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud And gurly grew the sea. The ankers brak, and the top mast lap It was sic a deadly storm; And the waves came owre the broken ship Till a' her sides were torn. O lang, lang may the ladies stand Wi' their fans into their hands Or e'er they see Sir Patrick Spens Come sailing to the land. O lang, lang may the ladies stand Wi' their gold combs in their hair, Waiting for their own dear Lords For they'll see them na mair. Half owre, half owre to Aberdour It's fifty fathoms deep; And there lies good Sir Patrick Spens Wi' the Scots Lords at his feet.

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